India, May 8, 2025 – The President of India welcomed Dr. Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday, as part of a high-level visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
This is the first time a senior Iranian official has visited India since the COVID-19 pandemic. The 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Iran was marked by the meeting, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation in various areas, including culture, trade, energy, and strategic coordination.
The President noted that the history of India-Iran relations is long and rich, with cultural exchanges dating back thousands of years. "In every aspect of art and culture, whether it is language and literature or music and food, we can see glimpses of each other's heritage," she said. The bilateral relationship has grown over 75 years, with regular high-level exchanges between the two countries playing a key role in building trust and cooperation.
The visit comes at a time when India and Iran are working together to realize the full potential of the Chabahar Port, a strategic trade route that connects the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan. The President thanked Iran for its message of solidarity and compassion following the Pahalgam terrorist attacks, which highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations.
The visit is seen as an opportunity for both countries to strengthen their strategic partnership, particularly in areas such as energy security, trade, and regional cooperation. As the Iranian foreign minister emphasized, India-Iran bilateral relations have always been built on a foundation of mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.